Town Square

Occupy San Ramon Valley?

Original post made
on Nov 4, 2011

The Occupy movement is coming to San Ramon tomorrow, although the current noun for the movement is an action, according to local organizer Ellis Goldberg. "We're having an action in front of some of the banks right on Crow Canyon Road east. It's the first plaza, the first thing you see on the right," Goldberg said.

Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Grown adults are at fault for taking on loans they could not afford. Banks are a business not someone's social conscious. The criminals are in Sacramento and Washington, and if you voted for Brown or Obama, you are part of the problem.

Posted by DanvilleMom
a resident of Danville
on Nov 4, 2011 at 9:13 am

Alan, you are right, of course. This Occupy situation is out of control because they are getting the attention they seek and their a** is not getting thrown in jail. If I want to camp in Yosemite for a month and call it a protest, could I?

Some people were thinking"No down Payment, that's easy, let's buy a house" or used their house as a piggy bank, spent, spent , spent, now it is the 1% fault.
What ever happened to planning for the future?

Posted by CDSI Research
a resident of another community
on Nov 4, 2011 at 9:19 am

Dear Editor,

Banking operates are part of a global economy with little direct USAmerican control thus a question continues, "Why do Occupy groups think they are making a point with global banking when they only occupy and disrupt local cities in the United States?"

Any impact on WDC politians is lost when global banking has the ability to fund campaigns for and against incumbants. Each politician must weigh the threat of a minority of voters in the Occupy groups versus the political capabilities of global banking.

Thus, in reality, I see equal humor in the Occupy movement and sailing our mythical submarine into Alviso.

Posted by Fed Up
a resident of San Ramon Valley High School
on Nov 4, 2011 at 9:45 am

I agree 100% with Alan and others above who talk about personal responsibility. These protestors seem to want something for nothing. For example, the woman at the Oakland City Council meeting who said the $1 million used to shut down the camp could have been used to put all the protestors in a studio apartment each. Why? They should be rewarded for creating havoc and a health hazard? They rail against the 1%, yet these are the people that have worked, saved and yes, sometimes have been very lucky. But they are also the people who make the biggest charitable gifts.

It's all the banks fault, they trick people into taking out loans they can't repay and they trick people into overwithdrawing money. They are to blame! TAKE OUT YOUR MONEY OUT OF THE BANK NOW AND LET WELLS FARGO AND BANK OF AMERICA PERISH! OCCUPY SAN RAMON FOREVER!

Congress forced banks to lend to people so that they could partake of the American Dream of home ownership. The payback was votes.
People took out what were commonly called "Liars' Loans". Are we picketing the people who took out these loans? The Real Estate sales people who wrote up the applications and pushed their sales through? The sellers of these properties? Congress which started this mess?

Socialism doesn't work, and this movement smells like socialism to me. You work hard, make your money, it should be YOUR money, not someone else's. This movement really makes me sick -- there are better ways to fight the corruption (which is what it is, I'll grant you that.) If you look at the folks protesting corporate greed, take a look at what they are wearing, the bikes they are riding, etc. -- all manufactured by a corporation. Duh!
Besides, how many hard-working folks are being jacked out of their right to shop, run a business, work and commute safely to and from home because of these protests?

Barney Frank and his friends in Congress said everyone should be able to own a home. Banks were accused of Redlining. That simply means refusing to lend in certain areas because they considered the risk to be too high. Now it is against the law to disciminate against borrowers because of income level. Now these idiots say that they should be given more. Mr Goldberg should read up on the real reason we have the problems we do today.

Really?! Banks trick people? YOU walked in and ASKED for the loan. YOU were given the papers to READ, and YOU SIGNED the loan. How did the bank trick you? If you choose not to carefully read what you are given, that is your problem. The banks were taking a huge risk on YOU, expecting you to be a responsible citizen. Now how is that their fault?

Posted by Barry Zwahlen
a resident of Blackhawk
on Nov 4, 2011 at 11:42 am

The "Occupy Wall Street" movement is silly and ignorant. We should not be looking to the banks for redress from "corporate greed". "Corporate Greed" does not exist. Greed exists in the individual human heart. You see it on Wall Street. You see it on Main Street. You see it in the private sector. You see it in the governmental sector. You see it when you look in the mirror in the morning. When C.K. Chesterton was asked to write a letter describing what was wrong with the world, He wrote "Dear Sirs - I am". The Occupy Wall Street crowd should spend less time on the street and more time on self reflection

Posted by OpenMindedGuy
a resident of Danville
on Nov 4, 2011 at 11:52 am

Unfortunately the perception of this movement is not at all positive, mostly due to the hoodlums who take advantage of any public event to cause mayhem- not fair to people who are truly upset at how the country is going, and that money (read: greed) garners political favor which trumps common sense and human decency. The protesters have every right to voice their opinion, whether you like the message or not: it's in the Constitution - just some of you think it only applies to your point of view and not dissenting voices: step out of your bubble!
To Denise and a few others - While personal responsibility / common sense is of up most importance and should be the ultimate fail-safe when dealing with large financial transactions like buying a house, it's just one of the legs of the chair: let's not forget a key fact that many who chose to blame these individuals, choose to overlook: the complex financial vehicles and processes that allowed so many people to purchase mortgages out of their financial reach were not "home grown" by the buying public: they were developed by the very banks, lenders and other 'clever' financial institutions that are being railed against today, with the intention of making home ownership available to the masses (with a healthy profit margin), as Bush urged in 2002:
"We've got to work to knock down the barriers that have created a home-ownership gap.
I set an ambitious goal. It's one that I believe we can achieve. It's a clear goal, that by the end of this decade we'll increase the number of minority homeowners by at least 5.5 million families … And it's going to require a strong commitment from those of you involved in the housing industry..."
He challenged every institution, both private and government to make this happen, and it did- So, please don't be so forthright in saying it's all the buyers' fault- it takes two to Tango... If you find my comments offensive: use your 1st amendment right and stand on SRV Blvd. and let me know... OMG

Again I say it is the buyer's responsibility to READ the documents they are given to fully UNDERSTAND what they are SIGNING. It just boils down to basic contract law of offer, acceptance, and consideration. This one leg of the chair idea is garbage! Buyers cannot claim ignorance when their VARIABLE interest rate jumps to what it CLEARLY states in the loan papers. If you don't want to read the contract before you sign it, that is your problem not the bank's! BTW OMG why do you act like it is a right to own a home? It is a product/good like everything else and if you can't afford one, you don't buy one!!!

The article says, "[The banks] had the [mortgage] bundle[s] rated as AAA even though they were risky…"

Wrong!

The banks didn't provide the AAA rating. The AAA ratings were provided by the three credit rating agencies: Standard & Poor's, Moody's, and Fitch. The banks presented all the facts to these credit rating agencies. The credit agencies, NOT the banks, were supposed to evaluate the debt instruments and provide an accurate risk assessment. They blew it. That is where blame resides.

Also, will Danville Express please stop misleading readers about Chevron!! Once again, you parrot what these protesters tell you about Chevron supposedly receiving "oil subsidies" without ever bothering to say what that means. You make it sound like the government is somehow giving Chevron money, or a special tax credit, or a loan (like the govt. did for Solyndra) or some other goodie.

Wrong!!

Chevron and other oil companies pay taxes at a higher rate than any other industry. Oil companies like Chevron are subject to average income tax rates of around 41% while the rest of the companies on the S&P 500 pay income taxes at around 26%. This is because these non-oil companies keep their high value intangible property away from taxes in offshore tax havens, something oil companies can't do. Chevron pays more taxes in one week than Google or Apple pay in an entire year. If you're too lazy to research this yourself, please stop giving a voice to these misleading protesters.

Posted by Tired of Media
a resident of Danville
on Nov 4, 2011 at 1:50 pm

SPCWT: I agree with you. I am sick and tired of the media not doing their homework, and romanticizing the misguided protests, for their own, selfish, liberal bias goals. If the media wants to do a factual, true, story about a real hero during this mess, write about the imigrant in Oakland who worked hard, played by the rules, made money, bought the Rotunda building, only to see criminal anarchist inflamed by the media break into his building last week end. This true hero had the American spirit of self reliance, and a shot gun, knowing that the liberal mayor of Oakland had paralyzed the police from doing their jobs, so he defended his property himself. Once seeing his shot gun, these criminal cowards quickly retreated like the cockroaches they are, into the dark of night. Real American hero's still exist, but do not expect the liberal media to let us know.

Yes! Wasn't that a great story about the Rotunda owner (Phil Tagami) scaring off those protesters with a shotgun! I saw that story last night on Channel 5 News. He told the protesters, "Sorry guys, but this building is how I feed my family."

Posted by C. R. Mudgeon
a resident of Danville
on Nov 4, 2011 at 2:24 pm

Notice how there hasn't been an "Occupy Berkeley" protest? Hey, the protestors may be largely idiots, but they're no fools (to quote the Monty Python Village Idiot sketch)... No sense in messing up your own town - just other people's towns.

Actually, this is consistent with the aims of most of the "movement" - getting others to fork over more money, and shifting responsibility to others.

Occupiers, do you remember that the liberal Congress FORCED lending institutions to give mortgages to those who could not qualify!!! We all live with the consequences. Now our liberal President is once again, without the now reasonable Congress' approval, FORCING mortgages for those who couldn't qualify and now can't pay!!!
Do you know that Wall Street is run by liberals?
I wish you would spend your time getting educated and/or working and contribute to the good of all.
Your actions are costing communities huge amounts of money and resources that could have otherwise been used for the welfare programs you want. Quit attacking our police/sheriff officials who give their lives to protect us.

Posted by Theresa
a resident of San Ramon Valley High School
on Nov 4, 2011 at 4:38 pm

Sandee, etc. Subprime loans are the fiancial culprit for people borrowing outside their capability. Though I agree that individuals are responsible for carefully reading contracts and being realistic regarding what they can/cannot afford, can we please be honest and admit that these loans were introduced by the Bush administration? We all know that. I didn't vote for Obama and I plan to vote him out of office, but the collapse of the market and the subprime loans predate his administration. We really can't blame the current administration -unless of course we decide to bury our heads and pass the buck.

I can't understand how Barney Frank is still in Congress & not in jail. I'm a real estate agent. I've been dealing with the banks (& investors) on short sales over the past 3 years. You'd be amazed at the number of people who are living in their homes & have not made a mortgage payment for 2 years or have never paid their HOA dues or property taxes since 2007. That has nothing to do with banks - & everything to do with personal (non)responsibility. But wait - this is the "I'm a victim - let's blame someone else" group. Now we have MoveOn.org involved in the "Occupy ___" (fill in the blank) movements. Let's not kid ourselves. These are anarchists & socialists who are using the gullible to promote their agenda. I'm tired of it! If I want to work 7 days a week & make enough to buy my own jet - that's my perogative. That's why I live HERE and not in Europe (where I did live & work for years; trust me, you really don't want that!). We have the right to freedom of speech - not the right to stomp on rights of others or destroy property (owned by the 99%, by the way). Do we need better policies? Absolutely. However, if we keep electing the same people - we get what we get. God help Oakland. I haven't seen such a lack of leadership in eons. Do you think they can bill the protestors for damages? Otherwise, the Oakland 99% will get to ante up. There's definitely something wrong with that!

Posted by One Who Knows
a resident of Blackhawk
on Nov 4, 2011 at 4:42 pm

Sandee...come on now...cops love this..best thing that ever happened to the San Ramon Cops...it's spelled OVERTIME...San Ramon does not have any "welfare" programs you refer to, there is no safety net my dear...if you really want more money for "welfare" prorams in San Ramon let's regotiate the "tax free" deal with Alex Mehran..

What do you call low-income housing? I do believe that is a "welfare" program in San Ramon. Do your research next time!

Theresa

The subprime loans you refer to were started and pushed by Barney Frank and the DEMOCRATIC congress at the time and the roots of it can be traced back to the CARTER administration. You also need to do your research and not spout off about things of which you are not educated about!!

Posted by SS Submariner Motorship Lollipop
a resident of another community
on Nov 4, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Dear Editor,

Our submarine will be stationed at the wharf in Drawbridge ready to embark on occupying Alviso. It seems we have a crew of volunteers among your commentators. Come, get on deck at the price of a bottle of dandelion wine and let us all make our presence felt on this most southern dock of the bay.

Alan, gee you're a charmer! Subprime loans had their birth long before the Bush administration, but as you well know, they were not widely available until then - along with several additional loan programs designed to make home ownership more widely available.

Just an FYI - "welfare" is known in most circles as "general assistance." These are need based programs that provide financial assistance, and are not affiliated with section 8 (what some refer to as "low-income") housing. These programs reduce rent payments to a portion of individual income rather than providing direct financial assistance. One of my neighbors had a daughter in such housing. It was wonderful - got her back on her feet after losing her husband and being a single parent to her kids. Now she is on her own again - a wonderful outcome!

Theresa - again you point to the Bush Admin rather than Barney Frank and his DEMOCRATIC cronies for the problems with subprime loans. Also, you may not want to call low-income housing welfare for whatever reason, but the state of California classifies as such, so your "circles" apparently like sugar-coating things.

Posted by Dan'l of the Northwest
a resident of another community
on Nov 4, 2011 at 5:28 pm

Commodore Ralph of the Submarine Motorship Lollipop offers us the opportunity to strike a resounding blow for liberty, equality and fraternaty in the campaign to invade and occupy Alviso..via Drawbridge. All volunteers will be issued standard Submarine Motorship Lollipop uniform of pink too-too's with crossed pickles emblazoned on the front and back...beanies with four blades will constitute official headgear. All volunteers will be issued 7 drams of Dandilion wines, with Weed Rum chaser..every four hours. Hurry and sign up,openings are limited...Veterans of Don Sherwoods Elite Commando force that invaded Stockton will be given birthing preferance!
Reply via smoke signal or heliographs...drums in a pinch!
Dan'l of the Northwest
Last Mate of the Scupper Control Division

Alan, you crack me up! I was a social worker for 37 years and I know the difference between general assistance and section 8 housing. I would LOVE to know where the state of California lumps the two together!

Knowing the difference between these in my "circles" is tantamount to knowing the difference between a particular bodily orifice and a hole in the ground.

Posted by Tired of Media
a resident of Danville
on Nov 5, 2011 at 10:45 am

Sally: Tea Party advocates do not shut down ports, vandalize buildings, throw rocks at police, and drain the cities budget by forcing us to hire non-stop overtime police. Tea Party advocates obtained permits, and lawfully dissented. That is American. There is nothing American about occupy losers and their criminal activities.

You crack me up and are very entertaining! Giving taxpayer money to people in any form is considered welfare. (FYI- the ACTUAL definition of welfare: financial or OTHER assistance to an individual or family from a city, state, or national government.) Just because there are different names given to something (i.e. general assistance versus section 8/housing vouchers/reduced rent) it is all welfare. Also, being a social worker doesn't mean you are well educated on the whole subject of welfare and what is classified as such. There are many ways to dress up the same taxpayer supported handouts.

Obviously, you don't know your ___ from a hole in the ground! ROTFLMAO!!!

Tired of Media,
You're right. The Tea Party death threats, vandalism at the White House (requiring SS intervention), violence at protests, Hitler mustaches on pictures of your President, yelling the n-word at black congressmen, and so much more, ...those are different and don't represent the majority of Tea Party protesters. So Tea Partiers can disavow the trouble makers, but Occupiers can't. Got it.

sally... you could become very rich perhaps you have not heard but there is a 100,000 dollar prize for someone to come forward with the proof of your charges. so far months have past and no one has collected, therefore you must have this proof. of these charges against the t party,(no i am not a member) will look forward to reading about your good fortune when you collect this big amount of cash. which i am sure you will pass on to the occuopiers

Openmindedguy
We need more of us in this town. Wish I knew who you were.
Luckily I already belong to a CU and am not getting nickeled and dimed to death. But remember the world is changing. Everyone must learn to bend a bit in these uncertain times. That is NOT a political statement.

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